SAN FRANCISCO -- Times like this are when the Giants can consider themselves especially fortunate to have Dave Righetti as their pitching coach.
Righetti realizes that it behooves him to learn as much as possible about San Francisco's prized acquisitions for the starting rotation, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija, before Spring Training begins in mid-February. As the Major Leagues' longest-tenured pitching coach, Righetti had no trouble gathering background on the pair of free-agent right-handers. His extensive network of contacts proved invaluable.
Righetti consulted both of the pitching coaches that Samardzija worked with in Chicago -- Chris Bosio of the Cubs and Don Cooper of the White Sox.